Flydubai co pilot planned to crash jet in Israel officials say

An Omani co-pilot attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight and planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport or a Tel Aviv skyscraper, according to reports from The Irish Times, CNN, and The Times of Israel. The incident occurred on 30 September 2026 aboard Flight 1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 travelling from Dubai International Airport to Israel. The aircraft broadcast a hijacking squawk code, diverted from its flight path, and made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. [1][4][8][11]

According to CNN and The Wall Street Journal, the co-pilot used a crash ax during the cockpit attack. The aircraft captain fought the attacker to retain control of the plane, according to CNN and CBN News. Early indications show that the co-pilot acted alone, as reported by CNN, NBC News, and Politico. Reuters and AP News reported that two Israeli officials said the co-pilot planned the attack before joining the airline. [2][3][4][9]

Prior to the flight, the United Arab Emirates shared crew information with Israel, including the names and nationalities of the pilots, AP News and the Los Angeles Times reported. Politico reported that Israeli authorities did not raise any concerns about the Omani pilot before the flight took off. The incident has since fuelled debate over Israeli security failures, according to The New Arab. [2][3][6]

Ben Gurion International Airport lies on the outskirts of Lod and serves as the main international hub of Israel. United Arab Emirates officials officially described the hijacking attempt as an attempted terrorist attack. [10][11]